Hi fellow DesertX riders!
I have been lurking around here for a while but decided to share some information that would have been useful for myself when equipping my DesertX Rally that I bought new in June 2024.
As you might be aware, the DesertX Rally ships with some extra goodies. In addition to a more advanced suspension with some extra travel, being the significant upgrade, it also has some of the extra options as standard, such as:
I decided to buy engine crash bars, so I looked around for something that came in black and that looked nice. As there is no difference in the frame, the selection is quite easy. I thought..
My primary objective was to keep the quite cool looking carbon bash guard. This was both to save cost but also to remain this quite unique look of the carbon bash guard, even though it might not be as sturdy as an after market steel one.
Me being a bit to eager for parts, ordered a nice looking set of black crash bars from AdventureSpec.
The fit and quality seems really good, but sadly, they compete on the mounting points. So instead of returning it and searching on for another one, that can share mounting points, I ordered the AdventureSpec bash plate and gave up the idea of the Carbon bash plate.
All in all, really nice looking protection kit, that also comes with sturdy extra protection for the front cylinder coil and side stand switch.
After removing the carbon bash plate, the crash bars mounted nicely (Note that you need to remove the "through bolt" in the frame used by the carbon bash plate).
The Bash plate did however not fit! The Rally rear break lever is a billet construction that is bent closer to the engine than the standard straight brake lever. So, to be able to use an after market bash plate, you need to ensure that there is no material that should cover the side of the exhaust under the engine, and squeeze in between the exhaust and the rear brake lever.
I will keep this after market bash plate and do a cut out to get free movement of the break lever, It will slightly affect engine protection but still be a lot more sturdy than original. As, it otherwise looks really nice, which is the look I decided to go after.
TLDR
I have seen some Rally bikes with crash bars on the Rally with maintained carbon bash plate. But the majority seems to require it to be changed for an after market model. But please also note that you then might need some machining or changing to an after market (or desert standard) rear brake pedal.
Oh! And by the way, the crash bar also conflicted on mounting points for my folding headlight protection. So now I am on the look for one that works with the new configuration. Wunderlich seems to have one.
Hope this helps someone
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I have been lurking around here for a while but decided to share some information that would have been useful for myself when equipping my DesertX Rally that I bought new in June 2024.
As you might be aware, the DesertX Rally ships with some extra goodies. In addition to a more advanced suspension with some extra travel, being the significant upgrade, it also has some of the extra options as standard, such as:
- A carbon engine bash guard
- High performance gear shifter
- High performance rear break lever
I decided to buy engine crash bars, so I looked around for something that came in black and that looked nice. As there is no difference in the frame, the selection is quite easy. I thought..
My primary objective was to keep the quite cool looking carbon bash guard. This was both to save cost but also to remain this quite unique look of the carbon bash guard, even though it might not be as sturdy as an after market steel one.
Me being a bit to eager for parts, ordered a nice looking set of black crash bars from AdventureSpec.
The fit and quality seems really good, but sadly, they compete on the mounting points. So instead of returning it and searching on for another one, that can share mounting points, I ordered the AdventureSpec bash plate and gave up the idea of the Carbon bash plate.
All in all, really nice looking protection kit, that also comes with sturdy extra protection for the front cylinder coil and side stand switch.
After removing the carbon bash plate, the crash bars mounted nicely (Note that you need to remove the "through bolt" in the frame used by the carbon bash plate).
The Bash plate did however not fit! The Rally rear break lever is a billet construction that is bent closer to the engine than the standard straight brake lever. So, to be able to use an after market bash plate, you need to ensure that there is no material that should cover the side of the exhaust under the engine, and squeeze in between the exhaust and the rear brake lever.
I will keep this after market bash plate and do a cut out to get free movement of the break lever, It will slightly affect engine protection but still be a lot more sturdy than original. As, it otherwise looks really nice, which is the look I decided to go after.
TLDR
I have seen some Rally bikes with crash bars on the Rally with maintained carbon bash plate. But the majority seems to require it to be changed for an after market model. But please also note that you then might need some machining or changing to an after market (or desert standard) rear brake pedal.
Oh! And by the way, the crash bar also conflicted on mounting points for my folding headlight protection. So now I am on the look for one that works with the new configuration. Wunderlich seems to have one.
Hope this helps someone
